Brazil

Northern Power Systems develops 3.3MW turbine for Brazil

BRAZIL: US turbine developer Northern Power Systems is to design a 3.3MW turbine alongside its Brazilian manufacturing partner WEG.

WEG currently manufactures Northern Power's 2.1MW turbine in Brazil

The new turbine will be designed specifically to meet the needs of the Brazilian market, but it will also be marketed across the wider South American region.

Northern Power said that the turbine will be developed under the Brazilian National Electrical Energy Agency's research and development programme.

No further technical details, such as blade length or drivetrain type, have been revealed at this time. However, Northern Power has generally specialised in permanent-magnet direct-drive turbines.

Windpower Monthly wrote about the formation of a strategic partnership between the two companies back in August 2013.

Under this agreement, WEG has exclusive rights to sell turbines based on Northern Power's 2.1MW design in Brazil and non-exclusive rights elsewhere in South America.

In early April, WEG announced that it will to supply 46 turbines based on the licensed design to a project in north-east Brazil.

Also in April, Northern Power revealed that it intends to carve out a "large" European market in 2014, especially in the UK and Italy.

The turbine manufacturer is also seeking further international strategic partnerships, including in China, India, Mexico, Russia and South Korea, that would involve licensing its technology and design, development and support services.

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